Hi Guys! Okay don't get irritated now, but I have one more OS 😆
This one is just after the MMS track. So, after the truth is revealed (whichever way), Abhi cancels Suresh-Pragya wedding. But Pragya's family now knows everything and especially since the divorce was done with, they don't let Pragya stay in the Mehra House. SO, this story begins a week after Pragya has left Abhi.
Hope you enjoy reading this! And please do keep the comments flowing in, I apogize for not having replied to most - but I was so busy writing that's why! Please keep providing you lovely words of encouragement! they are the real reason why I keep bombarding the forum with stories 😳😳
On that note, Happy Reading! 😉
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It was around twilight, when Abhi was returning from his recording in Pune. He had just got off the highway at Chembur, to find himself stuck in massive traffic caused by a wedding procession. He knew he would be stuck for long, if he had to follow the procession from behind. He decided that he would follow until the crossroad that comes half a mile ahead, then he would take a right turn and use the shortcut that he had often used while coming to Pragya's mother's house. Well Pragya's house now. Any other day he would have been reluctant to take that shortcut, now that chashmish had finally left him. But between waiting behind an over enthusiastic wedding procession and choosing to use Pragya's lane, he would definitely choose the latter. Anyway, it's not like the road is owned by chashmish, just because it's falls near her house. Had it been "Chashmish Marg" or something, he would definitely not tread on there, but it's a public road anybody could use it, justified Abhi.
While following the baraat' Abhi's eyes fell on the groom, who was almost dancing on his horse. Abhi gave a sarcastic laugh. And thought to himself.
"Idiot, becoming happy for no reason! He thinks he has a blissful life ahead! Just get married buddy, then you'll see. The only form of dance known to you will be dancing to her orders! First she will capture your bedroom in such a way that you'll not know where your things are, only she can tell you! Oh boy, don't feel glad at that - the typical my wife takes so good care of me' syndrome! It is just a strategy of making you dependent on her - so that whenever she is not around and you can't get you bearings right in your own room, you feel her absence! She just wants you to feel her importance in your life! But that is not all! Soon she will extend her strategy and make all your attendants lazy! She will start doing all your work instead - folding your clothes, taking them out for you to wear, cleaning your instruments - she will do it in such a way that you get used to her way, so that when she is not around, your attendants can never get it right and keep you satisfied. And you keep longing for her efficient management. And the worst, yes there is something worse! She wins over your daadi effortlessly, so that when she is gone, all you get are cold merciless stares from your own daadi! That is what a wife does to you! Dance your last boy, this is your last night of happiness!"
***
After a while, Abhi managed to reach the crossroad and take the right. He was immediately in familiar lanes. A little ahead to his right would stand the KKB' marriage hall, where once upon an unlucky night he was married to a strange, petit, bespectacled woman who made him - rectification, makes him - suffer just the way the groom boy will suffer from tomorrow. And to his left would falls her house. Well the irritation of following the procession made him take the lane, but now he was not sure if he did the right thing. It was a narrow lane, what if anyone of them were outside? They couldn't possibly miss his BMW. He hoped they would stay inside for the next ten minutes at least. He didn't want to come face to face with them just a week after Pragya left his house! It's too soon to pretend they are strangers, and talking could get awkward.
"Thank-God they weren't outside" Abhi sighed in relief as he crossed the house and the hall. Though he didn't notice himself that he had slowed his vehicle down around that place. He got a glimpse of the house. They were definitely inside, he thought he saw a glimpse of his rockstar daadi from the open window, with her cough syrup in her hand. He smiled to himself as the memory of his pag phera' night at the Arora's came flashing to him. That night when he had tried her cough syrup too. That huge shirt he wore, that belonged to chashmish's mamaji, it was like he was wearing an umbrella! Much like the ones chashmish wore. He liked the lime coloured one she sometimes wore, the colour suited her...
He had gone a little ahead now, the lane was dark here. It was just after the residential area. This lane connected to the Chembur main road that Abhi was going to take shortly. He was softly whistling to himself as he recollected various antics of chashmish in his house now. The drunken night, when she tried driving, the tiny scratch she got on her arm, which she tried to pass as a giant blister, her craving for gulab jamuns - get me four okay - she had said. She ate all four, didn't even offer Abhi once, smiled Abhi. In spite of that she was so skinny. As these thoughts crossed his mind, his eyes fell on a group of guys talking loudly and walking. He could understand they were drunk. But after driving closer, he realized, they weren't just walking - they were following a woman, who was walking ahead of them in a very fast pace.
Anger boiled inside Abhi, and he slowed his car to follow the group from behind. He wanted to ensure if indeed it was a genuine case of if-teasing and not anything else. He turned off his headlight and let his car glide behind the guys, and also opened his window to hear what they were saying.
"Hey girl, why are you running away? Did you run when that Rockstar Abhi offered you the deal?"
Abhi froze. What the hell was this? Why were they talking about him?
"Hey, I know we can't nearly pay you as much, hence we are not asking for monthly or quarterly services, just one night with each of us? We can at least afford you for one night. We want to see why he bedded you for so long, what special about you" said one of the miserable low-lives.
The girl didn't respond. She seemed too scared to react. She was just walking faster. And this time, Abhi could she her clearly. She was a petit woman wearing a lime coloured anarkali. Her wavy hair was set lose and covered most of her back. Abhi stopped his car at once when realization dawned on him. "chashmish" he gasped. Abhi then got out of the car and ran behind the men. When he reached them, he got hold of the one nearest to him and landed a hard punch on his face. The guy flew few paces ahead and landed painfully on the road. The other three turned back in alarm and instantly their jaw dropped when they saw Abhi.
"What were you saying about her? Repeat if you dare!" screamed Abhi in frustration.
The guys didn't dare attack him, but one of them mustered the courage to speak.
"We know you are a very powerful man. We don't want to duel you, why don't you leave us alone with the girl and go?"
"How dare you talk about her in such a derogatory way" screamed Abhi again and hit in the ribs of another of those guys. He fell on his back and whimpered for a second. But he got up again and grabbed hold of a stupefied chashmish.
"What's your problem rockstar? She served you alright, now it's our turn, what is your problem? Get lost before we break your head"
"Leave her alone, or I will kill each of you I swear!" boomed Abhi's voice.
"What the f**k, why are you standing up for this wh**e? Who is she to you? You had your go at her, now don't force us to beat you down to pulp" replied one of them.
Abhi had lost all his restraint by now. He threw himself on the guy and bashed him till the others ran from there. Abhi saw the almost unconscious guy still letching at chashmish, and he picked up a rock to smash his head in anger. But a pair of delicate hand stopped him.
"Abhi let him be. No Abhi he will die. Abhi come with me. Abhi leabe him I said" screamed Pragya.
As Abhi let chashmish drag him towards the car he turned to the ba****d who was trying to get up and run now - he screamed after him in anger, pride and protectiveness, "Bloody Hell! She is my Wife!"
***
Pragya had pulled him away from them and got him to his car. Her voice was shaking, she requested Abhi to not go behind those guys and asked him to go home. She was then turning around and leaving. Abhi roughly caught hold of her arm. He was still boiling in rage, and he diverted his anger on her now.
"What the hell were you doing here at this hour chashmish? Don't you have the sense to understand it's unsafe? Why were you alone? What if I wasn't here tonight?" he screamed and shook her shoulder.
"Thank-You for saving me Mr. Abhishek Prem Mehra" was all she said. Then she started walking away. Again Abhi caught hold of her.
"Where the hell are you going? Just get inside the car and I will drop you home. AND. I don't want any arguments on this chashmish. Either you will come by yourself, or I will have to take you in as a hostage" thundered Abhi in repulsion, as the horror of the incident was slowly setting in.
Pragya looked like she was about to protest, but seeing Abhi's state she quietly got into the car and sat beside him. Abhi was holding the steering and breathing hard.
"Chashmish are you hurt?"
"No, they hadn't begun physically abusing me - you arrived before that" she replied calmly. This infuriated Abhi. How could chashmish talk about this so casually? Didn't she understand what could have happened had he not been there tonight?
"Chashmish, do you mind if I start driving in a few minutes? I need to calm down, I don't want to drop you home in this state of mind"
"Sure, take your time."
Abhi sat there holding the steering tightly, as if it was helping him in keeping himself under control. He thought he would play the radio to sooth the nerves. He tuned in the middle of a song.
"Roothe to khuda bhi roothe
Saath chhoote naa"
He abruptly stopped the radio and looked at chashmish. She was eerily calm, and looked straight ahead. After a few seconds, she offered him water from a bottle she dug out of her bag.
"Drink it, you will feel better" - Abhi took it from her and drank. But Abhi couldn't help notice that when he was taking the bottle from her, his finger gently brushed hers. But she reacted like her finger stung. She quickly took her hand away. Abhi thought he felt unnecessarily disturbed at the slight gesture.
After a while, he was a little relaxed. He wondered how chashmish had the nerve to remain so strong, when in reality the attack was on her, and he on the other hand was the one who needed to calm down.
"You please be careful next time. Don't use this route" Abhi tried to pull off a casual conversation, just to check if she was actually okay or was she pretending before him.
"This route is safe. We all use it. Nothing would have happened if there was some other girl in my place"
Abhi's fury returned at her indifference. "You were about to be raped chashmish! Why are you pretending like nothing happnened? And what do you mean by - this wouldn't have happened if there was any other girl in your place?"
"Other girls who walk down this road aren't abandoned by their celebrity husbands after four months of marriage Abhi. That's why people don't have wrong notions about them - monster's like these, even they know, if the attack other girls, there will be someone out there to fight for them - they have it easy in my case - hence the safest road aren't safe for me anymore, in fact why other roads, even in my own neighbourhood, I can feel the dirty eyes of men on me. AND, why am I pretending like it's a minor thing? Well sometimes in life, that's all you can do - pretend. I know I was almost raped tonight. And thank you for saving me - but my question is, how many times will I get lucky or you will be around? We can defer this, not avoid it - hence I have learnt to be prepared." Finished a breathless Pragya with tears in her eyes.
Abhi sat there stunned. He didn't have the courage to turn and look at her. A part of him wanted to hug her and console her, it wanted to tell her not to worry, he will take care of everything, but another part of him, felt so shallow hearing this, that it didn't permit him to even glance at her now. As he sat there, he realized he was wrong - he thought she was finally at peace at her home, without misunderstandings or snide remarks, but in reality, chashmish was literally in hell. He knew her enough to understand that she wouldn't share all this with her family, lest it pained them. She would gulp all this by herself and break down within. He wanted to apologize to her, but it didn't come out. He knew words weren't enough anymore. His actions should show.
Abhi, finally drew a deep breath and ignited his car engine. When they reached her neighbourhood, Pragya insisted he stopped the car in a dark lane next to her house, lest her family knew he came to drop her - she explained she didn't want to narrate the night's incident to them. Chashmish got out of the car and asked Abhi to leave. Abhi ignited his engine as Pragya started walking towards her house. But Abhi was only pretending to leave. He stayed there until and unless he saw for himself that chashmish had walked inside her house without any trouble. Once she shut the door, he finally let go of the tears that were battling to come out. He sat there for a long time crying and regretting that he was the reason an innocent girl was going through such a terrible time - not just any woman, his wife. Well how can a piece of paper nullify a relation he still believes in? Divorced or not, chashmish was his wife! And he was going to see to it that from henceforth no one dared to mess with his wife!
As he finally drove away from there, he said in his mind, "Don't worry chashmish, I will fight for you - always - and fix this for you".
Driving a little ahead he saw a wedding hall where that over excited wedding procession, he was stuck behind earlier in the evening seemed to have arrived for the wedding. He remembered that over excited groom on his horse. He smiled silently and whispered, "However irritating and conspiring she is, take care of her. It hurts when they leave you".
Anupamaa
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